General Leave

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, like many, my district has been hit hard by this pandemic. The virus has claimed the lives of 3,200 San Diegans. Nine out of ten small businesses in the region report suffering in the face of COVID-related closures.

I am voting to send this bill to the Senate because this plan will safely reopen schools, get vaccines in arms, and help people get back to work and the economy back on track. And the bill allows States and localities to provide financial relief to our Nation's ports, like the Port of San Diego, which expects a loss this year of over $98 million.

Still, I remain concerned about the targeting and accountability around some of the funding, so I am urging the Senate to make some comments and some improvements: Extend the duration of unemployment payments, ideally with automatic triggers; adjust the amount of timing of State aid based on real revenue shortfall resulting from COVID; and expand funding for industries bearing the brunt of this crisis, like small restaurants, public attractions, and live entertainment.

Mr. Speaker, I am voting ``yes'' because this is a good start. We have to keep it on track, but there is more work to do.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source